Outline For Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology:
Why Be Negative, When You Can Be Positive!

Thesis/Key Question:

I always try to surround myself with good vibes and positive people. Which is why I love doing what I do, I’m a DJ and my main goal every night I preform is to make people have a good time. Great vibes bring great people and great vibes influences great people. So why wouldn’t you want to bring positivity into your life? Positive psychology is one of the newest branches of psychology to emerge. This particular area of psychology focuses on how to help human beings prosper and lead healthy, happy lives. While many other branches of psychology tend to focus on dysfunction and abnormal behavior,
positive psychology is centered on helping people become happier. Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describe positive psychology in the following way: "We believe that a psychology of positive human functioning will arise that achieves a scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving in individuals, families, and communities."( Seligman, M.
E. P. & Csikszenmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5-14.)

Over the last ten years or so, general interest in positive psychology has grown tremendously. Today, more and more people are searching for information on how they can become more fulfilled and achieve their full potential. Interest in the topic has also increased on college campuses. In 2006, Harvard 's course on positive psychology became the university 's most popular class. In order to understand the field of positive psychology, it is essential to start by learning more about its history, major theories and applications.
Literature
Review:

"Before World War II, psychology had three distinct missions: curing mental illness, making the lives of all people more productive and fulfilling, and identifying and nurturing high talent,"( Goldberg, C. (2006). Harvard 's crowded course to happiness. Boston Globe.) Seligman wrote in 2005. Shortly after WWII, the primary focus of psychology shifted to the first priority: treating abnormal behavior and mental illness. During the 1950s, humanist thinkers such as Carl Rogers, Erich Fromm, and Abraham Maslow helped renew interest in the other two areas by developing theories that focused on happiness and the positive aspects of human nature. In 1988, Seligman was elected President of the American Psychological Association and positive psychology became the theme of his term. Seligman is widely viewed as the father of contemporary positive psychology. In 2002, the first International Conference on Positive Psychology was held. In 2009, the first World Congress on Positive Psychology took place in Philadelphia and featured talks by Martin Seligman and Philip Zimbardo. Discussion: Some people will squeeze the life out of you if you let them. They 're the ones who are quick to criticize us and make heartless remarks behind our backs. They thrive on pointing out our faults and love to remind us of our flaws. They like to prey on us when we 're most vulnerable and kick us when we 're down. In addition, they enjoy the moments when we are vulnerable and take every opportunity to chip away at our self-esteem. Deep down, these are insecure, unhappy people who have discovered they feel better about themselves when we feel worse. Try to steer clear of these toxic people - they reek of negativity and are poster children for regret. If you want to be happier and have less regret in your life, stay as far away as possible from toxic people.
Instead surround yourself with positive, supportive people who will encourage you and believe in you. These are individuals who tend to smile a lot, love to laugh at life, and are always there to cheer you on. They see your potential even when you 're not showing it, and they look at every day as an opportunity for you to do something great. They are also the ones who boost your confidence when you 're up against a challenge and who lift your spirits when you 're down in the dumps or stuck in a rut. They are eternal optimists and die-hard advocates. They 've got your back and will always be in your corner
References:

Gable, S. & Haidt, J (2005). What (and Why) is Positive Psychology? Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 103–110
Goldberg, C. (2006). Harvard 's crowded course to happiness. Boston Globe. Found online at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/10/harvards_crowded_course_to_happiness/
Peterson, C. (2006). A Primer in Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Peterson, C. (2008). What Is Positive Psychology, and What Is It Not? Psychology Today. Found online at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200805/what-is-positive-psychology-and-what-is-it-not
Seligman, M. E. P. & Csikszenmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5-14.
Snyder, C. R. & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.) (2005). Handbook
of Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.